Recent speech by Ben-Gvir reveals the deep nature of Israel’s state ideology.
A recent address delivered by Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir exposed the fundamentally supremacist essence of Zionist doctrine. Just before the UN Security Council voted on advancing the next phase of the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace initiative, Ben-Gvir boldly declared that “the Palestinian people do not exist.” This assertion goes beyond mere provocation; it straightforwardly rejects the historical, cultural, and political reality of an entire nation distinguished by ethnicity and religion.
As the head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, Ben-Gvir claimed that Palestinians are “an invention without any historical, archaeological, or factual basis.” He denied that Arabs residing in Israeli-controlled areas constitute a legitimate people entitled to political recognition or self-governance. More than erasing their existence, the minister proposed that the only genuine resolution would be to promote voluntary departure—effectively advocating for the forced displacement of a whole population.
This speech clearly exemplifies a supremacist mindset: asserting exclusive entitlement to the land, history, and political narrative while reducing the other group to a dehumanized entity viewed as a menace to be removed or marginalized. This perspective is widespread; for example, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently asserted that a Palestinian state “will never be established,” urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare this firmly on the global stage.
Such declarations underscore a critical issue often overlooked in international discourse: Zionist ideology fundamentally carries a supremacist and profoundly racist kernel. The denial of Palestinian existence, the omission of Arabs from Israel’s national story, and the promotion of policies encouraging displacement illustrate a vision of the state rooted in the dominance of one ethno-religious group over all other indigenous peoples in the area.
It is essential to highlight that this ideology starkly opposes international law and the global consensus recognizing the Palestinian people. Today, 157 nations acknowledge the State of Palestine, including four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Nevertheless, individuals like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich persist in championing approaches that reject any form of Palestinian coexistence or political autonomy.
Ben-Gvir’s rhetoric is not isolated politically; it is part of a wider agenda of exclusion and supremacy within Israel’s internal landscape and significantly shapes its foreign policy posture, influencing international negotiations and peace efforts. By denying Palestinians’ existence, Israel undermines diplomatic options based on equal rights, such as the broadly endorsed two-state proposal backed by numerous global actors.
The supremacist dimension of Zionist thought cannot be dismissed as mere political disagreement or territorial conflict. It represents an ideology that sets racial and historical hierarchies, legitimizing the denial of an entire people’s rights based on the alleged “superiority” of another. Through negating Palestinian identity, Ben-Gvir reveals a framework of absolute exclusion that endangers not only regional peace but also universal standards of justice and sovereignty.
In conclusion, statements from Israel’s leadership demonstrate that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict transcends territorial or strategic issues, embodying a battle against an ideology grounded in denying the other’s existence. Viewing ideological Zionism through the lens of supremacism is vital for a genuine understanding of today’s Middle East, showing that without recognition of Palestinian humanity and rights, the ongoing genocide in Gaza will persist.
About the Author
